Voting was brisk and steady at voting sites in Hobart and Merrillville, with the number of votes cast at each site visited by the Post-Tribune by 1 p.m. Tuesday eclipsing or coming close to the number usually cast in the full 12-hour day during an election.

“So far we’ve had 102 voters. It usually takes us all day to get to 100, and we have no access to the early votes and I know there have been early votes in this precinct,” Hobart 16th Precinct committeeman Dennis Gould said around noon.

Gould said in the past, voters usually came to the former Elks Club site on 61st Avenue in groups, as polls opened, at lunchtime and at quitting time.

“Today it’s been a steady stream,” he said.

At Merrillville Fire Station 72, precinct clerk Barb Hutson and precinct inspector Norman Johnson said 148 residents had cast votes by 1 p.m., just 52 shy of the 200 cast at that location all day in the 2016 presidential election.

“This morning we had people lined up in the parking lot,” Hutson said. “This is good for a midterm election.”

At the Hobart Fire Station 1, City Councilman and precinct committeeman Lino Maggio, D-3rd, and vice committeewoman Janet Snedecor said 121 people had voted by 11:20 a.m.

“I think it’s the U.S. Senate race,” Maggio said of the reason for the large turnout.

While many voters questioned cited their civic duty as their reason for voting, others attributed it to their feelings about morals and the current administration and President Donald Trump, even though he wasn’t on the ballot.

“We’re anti-Trump all the way. I wish there were more women on our ballot,” Hobart resident Gene Kadar said.

Pablo Alvarado said the Lake County sheriff and U.S. Senate races particularly stood out for him and his wife, Mia Alvarado, of Merrillville.

Their anti-Trump sentiment added to their vote choices.

“We’re a little older in life and feel we need to take the most responsible route that applies to us. We want to make sure the right people get in,” Pablo Alvarado said. “We’re usually more pro-Republican because of our faith, but as of recently Trump has had an effect on that. I’m absolutely not for Trump.”

Amy Lavalley / Post-Tribune

A voter walks into Jackson Township Elementary School to cast a ballot during Tuesday’s general election.

A voter walks into Jackson Township Elementary School to cast a ballot during Tuesday’s general election. (Amy Lavalley / Post-Tribune)

Valparaiso voters get early start

A little before 6 a.m. Tuesday, more than 20 voters lined up outside Valparaiso High School to cast ballots before the sun began to lighten the sky.

Dan Dillabaugh, a project manager for a crane and rigging operation, was one of the first in line. Like others there that early, he planned to head to work after he cast his ballot.

He always votes on Election Day, he said, because he likes going through the process, and he votes in every election.

“It’s a civic duty. There’s so many people who fought and died for our right to vote, it’s important to exercise it on every election,” Dillabaugh said.

The economy and health care were among the issues driving him to vote this time around. “It’s all the typical issues that have been at the forefront the past several years.”

Eric Deal said he normally works the polls but served on jury duty Monday and couldn’t do so this year but he, like Dillabaugh, votes in every election.

“The people we’re voting for affect where we’re at and where we live,” he said. “It’s just who’s going to do the best for our community and our state.”

Shortly before a poll worker swung the main door to the high school open at 6 a.m. with the proclamation, “Hear ye, hear ye, the polls are now open,” Teri Dougherty, a nurse practitioner who works in Chicago, said she was focused on county elections.

“I think the local options are the main reason I’m here today,” she said. “They’re on my radar this year.”

At Jackson Township Elementary School, home to five precincts, a steady stream of voters entered the building around lunchtime.

Tom Frain, a business owner, said national issues brought him to the polls.

“The U.S. Congress is in play. It’s important to stay with the policies in place the last two years,” as opposed to those from the eight years previous to that, he said, adding, “taxes are a big deal.”

The U.S. Senate seat race between incumbent Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, and Republican Mike Braun, also has been “nationalized,” he said, adding he also was keeping tabs on a state constitutional amendment for a balanced budget.

Lincoln Center vote draws Highland residents

In Highland, voters appeared split on the expansion for Lincoln Community Center.

Town officials said the $15 million project for an indoor sports complex and additional parking would be funded through property taxes and maintained through usage fees.

Jan Kolat, 56, said he was concerned about parking overflow. His wife voted for it, he said.

“I didn’t want them to overwhelm the neighborhood,” he said.

Sales rep Jim Golden, 34, said he voted for the expansion. Married with a young child, he said Highland needed something to draw people there.

“I don’t think the property tax scare was that much of a big deal,” he said. The town “needs something for families to come.”

Martha Velasquez, 80, agreed.

“It’s not for me, it’s for my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren,” she said. “I’m in my 80s. We should leave something for the next generation.”

Miller neighborhood voters put up with construction mess to cast their ballots

People living in Gary’s Miller Beach neighborhood had to put up with traffic congestion caused by construction work along Lake Street in order to be able to cast their ballots.

A pair of precincts in Gary were using the Carter Woodson branch of the Gary Public Library as their polling place, but had to negotiate Lake Street, which is being resurfaced.

“It’s causing some confusion,” said Kevin Thomas, an election judge working at the polling place Tuesday. “But people are being patient and working their way here.

“People want to vote, and they’re not going to let something like a torn-up road stop them,” Thomas said.

Gregory Tejeda / Post-Tribune

Voters in Gary's Miller Beach neighborhood had to avoid Lake Street resurfacing to vote at the Woodson branch of the Gary Public Library.

Voters in Gary's Miller Beach neighborhood had to avoid Lake Street resurfacing to vote at the Woodson branch of the Gary Public Library. (Gregory Tejeda / Post-Tribune)

At that particular polling place, some 50 people were on hand to cast ballots when it opened at 6 a.m., and just under 200 had voted there by the noon hour. With an anticipated flood of voters expected to show up just before the polling place closes at 7 p.m., Thomas said, “we’re going to get a lot of voters today.”

All around Gary, polling judges were reporting steady numbers of people throughout the day.

Poll workers at the Tolleston Park Pavilion, 1709 Ellsworth St. in Gary, said voting was steady all morning at the two-precinct site.

There was a problem that shut down one machine early in the day at Tolleston Park, but it was quickly fixed, said City Councilwoman Mary Brown, D-3rd.

She said a line of voters patiently waited as the machine was repaired.

Some voters arrived at the pavilion, only to learn they were at the wrong polling place. Most were routed to Peace Baptist Church, 1135 Chase St.

"I didn't do my homework," said a woman voter who headed out the pavilion door and to the church.

Portage voters drawn for national, local issues

Voters at several Portage polls said they were split on their feelings on national and local issues.

Patrick Costello said he “skipped the past couple of elections,” but Trump drove him to the poll this time, he said.

“We’re not looking at what we should be looking at, which is health care, jobs,” Costello said. “We’re worried about immigration? Yeah, we need immigration reform, but these people coming up from the South are women and children, and you want to send 15,000 troops down there?”

Steelworker Mike Ivanovic, a native of the former Yugoslavia, said he supported Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress.

“So far, we have a good economy, and everything’s going in the right direction.” Ivanovic said, adding he did not pay much attention to local issues.

Nathan and Gabrielle Garcia, with their two children, said local issues, particularly Portage Township school board races, were their reason for braving the steady, chilly wind Tuesday.

“Yeah, I think the local school board affects us more than the national issues,” added Nathan Garcia. “We need change in the country, but, we need to start the changes at the local level.”

Michelle L Quinn / Post-Tribune

Voter Richard Clemens, left, stops to chat with Democratic Lake County Council candidate Phil Kuiper after voting at the Lake County Fairgrounds Tuesday afternoon.

Calumet Township to decide on school funding

In Calumet Township, several voters who opposed two school referendums said they didn’t want higher taxes and were concerned about its impact on the elderly.

“Everything they do, they put on (locals),” Zina Litt, 53, said.

Lake Ridge is asking voters for a $44 million capital referendum for building repairs and upgrades, while a second $22 million ballot question would pay for transportation, programs and staff. Officials said it stands to lose around $3 million when the full effect of property tax caps hit Lake County in 2020.

Amanda Hubbard, 40, and Martin Gaskey, 34, said they supported the referendum. They just bought a house and are raising two children who go to Lake Ridge.

“You don’t want to have a place where you don’t have schools,” he said.

About 40 students were out across polling stations in Calumet Township on Tuesday handing out YES cards, Athletic Director Sara Kuntarich said. They volunteered and received class credits for their time. They were stationed across from volunteers handing out NO cards outside.

New citizen casts 1st vote at Lake County Fairgrounds

At the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point, Mara Stibitz marveled at how quickly her contribution to democracy went.

Stibitz, a Brazilian native who became a citizen last year, voted in her first U.S. election Tuesday.

"I've never voted for a judge, but I did my homework," she said. "The process was easy; we were in and out in five minutes.

"I'm proud to have voted today."

Lifelong voter Robert Clemens, meanwhile, said it felt like "just another vote" to him. In fact, the discussions he's had with his sons about the midterms have been more exciting, especially since they're on opposing parties.

"I told my sons if their grandparents knew who they were voting for, they'd be rolling in their graves," he said.